A WEE SIDEBAR FOR THE HISTORICALLY ENTHUSED

Every now and again, an historian finds there’s simply too much down-time around the old homestead. My wife Suzanne recognizes the signs, and if I’m not interested in construction and renovation around the house, in all likelihood, I’m only going to be satisfied taking on a writing project. It’s a hobby profession or a professional hobby that compels me to find something odd, or unchallenged from the past, research it to some preliminary footholds, find out whether the facts as known are solid. and beyond the need for re-writing; or on the other hand, discover a few interesting, previously unknown twists. When I began work on the Tom Thomson mystery, back in the mid 1990's, I drove everyone nuts with my daily rants about the artist having been murdered, contrary to the coroner’s 1917 conclusion, which had determined Thomson was the victim of accidental drowning instead. I’m still working on this after all these years. (This series of articles is currently on my Muskoka and Algonquin Ghosts blogsite). A number of years ago I began one of my obsessive missions to disprove another historian’s claim about the naming of Gravenhurst. It’s the reason I don’t get invited over to other historians’ homes for social gatherings. I’m such a pain in the ass when it comes to researching where I apparently don’t belong.

I became enthused about the work of Postal Authority, Scholar, Dr. William Dawson LeSueur, who in 1862 gave our town a name it didn’t expect and certainly didn’t want. Without explanation LeSueur chose the name “Gravenhurst,” after a book written by British poet / philosopher, William Henry Smith. While there is no doubt LeSueur was a talented chap, he simply neglected to explain why he had refused the submitted name, put forward by the citizens of the day, to honor literarily, the Muskoka hamlet, with the title of a book known mostly to scholars of the day. What seemed like an honor to him, as he obviously approved of Smith’s writing, probably stunned the local citizenry, who may have thought it was a name borrowed instead, from a community in Britain.....which was done frequently without too much fuss. But the fact is, LeSueur didn’t borrow it from a map but from a book.

What lured me into it was the fact he also named Bracebridge after the title of a book. Not after the name of a town in England, which was for many years considered a possibility. Both Bracebridge and Gravenhurst are names of communities in England. Yet LeSueur named the town after American author, Washington Irving’s, 1820's sketches, entitled “Bracebridge Hall,” a spin-off book from the original “Sketch Book,” from about 1819......, which of course contained the inclusion of the well known “Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” As it turns out, local historians in Bracebridge, simply had the wrong idea. LeSueur it was supposed, not only borrowed the name Bracebridge from Irving’s collection, but also must have taken the name “Gravenhurst” from the same book. Funny thing though. No one had taken the time to read “Bracebridge Hall,” or research in any way shape or form, if Washington Irving ever once penned the name “Gravenhurst.”

When I approached several authorities on Irving and his literary work, they could not confirm any time when the American author used “Gravenhurst.” Add to this the fact that Gravenhurst was named in 1862 and Bracebridge in 1864, and one could comfortably say, “well that’s odd.” Why wouldn’t LeSueur, in this case, have used “Bracebridge” to name our community instead. It struck me as unrealistic that when a perfectly good title was sitting out in the open, LeSueur would have opted to delve into the pages of the book, to pluck a suitable post office title. Well, that’s because LeSueur, a brilliant writer and accomplished literary critic, as well as being a career civil servant, had two different books at two different times. Both names were employed by LeSueur very much as a memorial tribute to the authors, (both recently deceased at the time), yet a stunning literary provenance to each of the largely unsuspecting towns. What a great honor for both towns, to have this amazing yet still under-known literary connectedness.

I was able to acquire a copy of William Henry Smith’s book, from an American rare book dealer, and our antique business, purchased it as a donation to the Town of Gravenhurst Archives, along with a large picture from the National Archives of Canada, of Dr. LeSueur himself.

I can remember contacting an Archives member, after receiving the book, and having to break it to him that there was a little more to the title than simply “Gravenhurst.” The full title was “Gravenhurst; or Thoughts on Good and Evil.” There was a pause, a wee chortle, and relative calm. It takes a lot to surprise a weathered historian. The book isn’t really about evil, as much as a philosophical look at a small fictional town, “Gravenhurst,” in Smith’s case, and is a study about the commonplace about its life and times. It’s an examination of how one can not fully appreciate good without experiencing what might be considered bad......what is happiness without the influence of sadness. What is prosperity in this commonplace of mankind, without failure. One emotion building the other, in an endless cycle of experience and adaptation through generations. But as we know and celebrate, “extraordinary” does generate from this same commonplace, so we shouldn’t feel insulted by the association with “ordinary” and “common,” as penned by Smith and admired by LeSueur. Not quite as exciting as being named after a book by the author of “Rip Van Winkle,” and creator of memorable characters like the “Headless Horseman,” and “Iccabod Crane.”Yet the good Mr. Smith was a revered poet and author of numerous successful collections. His friends and colleagues, in England, were amongst the great literary stars of the mid-1800's. We certainly shouldn’t feel short-changed with our association.

Sometimes historians are just misinformed versus lazy, or take the wrong turn at the crossroads. I’ve done it myself.....many times. And, well, I’ve had to be corrected. You take it on the chin and move on. Of course it stings, but right is right afterall. I was pleased to be able to delve into the handiwork of Dr. LeSueur, and find out his clever associations of authors, and certain Canadian Post Offices he was responsible for naming. What had been a basic shortfall of unfulfilled research, from a Bracebridge perspective, had lasted up until the turn of this present century. Every now and again I have to jump all over some newby historian, who takes what was written in the past, as gospel, without cross-referencing all the available texts. This is very clearly stated in my book from 2000, on Irving, LeSueur and the naming of Bracebridge. There is a section on the naming of Gravenhurst.

Just thought that before you become elected representatives, of the Town of Gravenhurst, you might wish possess this insight about the municipality you will be governing through the next four year term. “Gravenhurst, or Thoughts on Good and Evil.” Neat eh? Few other communities could boast this kind of literary provenance.

A FINAL ELECTION NOTE TO CANDIDATES AND VOTERS

I never intended to run this small collection of blog notes, on the upcoming municipal election, more than a couple of weeks. I probably have gone a little past that but some things really started to bug me......and a few still do but nothing I can say or write will alter the attitude of entitlement, or the sense of divine right to govern one gets apparently, after winning an election.

There have not been enough election forums / debates in this municipality, and I don’t believe the upcoming all-candidates meeting will establish any more than the humdrum we’ve seen and read “plenty-of” so far. As far as a debate, that’s the platform to determine candidate moxy and their ability to ultimately defend, promote, and serve our community’s values over the next four year term. Unless you can have an unfettered, “let it all hang out,” debate, in full view of discerning voters, and the press, all you’re going to “hang out” is those stupid personal biographies about “how I helped my mother in the kitchen,” through to “I once donated a bag of groceries to a food drive.” Weak propaganda we can all do without.

A debate is when we, the informed, can take-on candidates who, apparently, pretty much on their own (for example), saved Gravenhurst High School from closing, when in fact we know it was not a solo effort by a long shot. This really bugs me when candidates, to pad their resumes, will make outlandish claims, when, if we have to get forensic, it was not quite as now presented in the march for votes. What we did to save the school, (of which my wife and I were committee members), just as many other efforts to improve our community generally, is what any concerned citizen should do to help out their hometown. I don’t take credit for saving The Bog, because it wasn’t a one man show. It was a legion of supporters, and whether I was a pivotal spokesperson or not, I would never put this on my resume, to garner votes. My happiness is seeing this wonderful urban oasis conserved. Just as I’m delighted the school has remained open, thanks to many concerned citizens contrary to some opinion.

Over the last few days I have been absolutely appalled by news of federal and provincial government debacles, from scrapping the long-form census, to interference in freedom of information requests, to the banning of certain classified junk foods from being sold in Ontario schools.....my boys loved pizza days but these may be fewer in the future, thanks to a government fanning out to over-govern us even more. I’d be delighted if the HST was removed from utility bills. Now that would be a vote getter.

The point has been, and what I have asked candidates via this blog series, is to set the bar a tad higher than it has been for the past several terms of office. It’s time to live up to a higher standard of competence, performance, and insightfulness. We have a huge task to rebuild confidence in our local municipal representation, and there needs to be a new attitude for one and all, who work and occasionally need to use our newly opened town hall. We require a welcoming, cheerful attitude over there, and a willingness to allow the stakeholders, us, more say in how this town is governed. We also need to stop the “tail wagging the dog,” as town staff, in my opinion, has become more powerful and influential than the elected officials. This is not an isolated complaint by any means.

I have my candidates selected but I will not use this blog site to advertise them or their specific mission statements. It wouldn’t be fair.

I hope that those who are elected for the next four year term, will be open minded and approachable. I trust they will honor their pledges, but be responsive to critical changes that may negate some projects yet encourage the advancement of others. It is this dynamic to meet challenges with skill and knowledge that we need the most, particularly as this lagging economy, locally and nationally, continues to present obstacles......locally keeping the Salvation Army Food Bank in great demand. God Bless these folks for helping our community help itself!

BEWARE THE PRESS THAT JUST MIGHT HOUND YOU

One of the purposes behind this latest blog blitz in Gravenhurst, is to re-establish some important hallmarks about our right to elect representatives, and your right to interpret our messages, and then our right to remind you we kept notes.....your right to change your opinion, and our right to pursue our democratic privilege by holding you to account.

But as we wind down this municipal election campaign, I want to leave you with an old reporter’s perspective about how you should be prepared, as elected officialS, to deal with the media. And while you’ve undoubtedly spent all your time trying to get elected, surely you must have had a daydream about actually winning the vote. So here’s an important reality check every candidate should be aware of, but seldom believe they should put the cart, as they say, before the horse. On this one occasion, it’s okay. Being proactive with the press means you’ll be ready for a microphone in the face, a camera catching your shock and awe, or a notepad being scribbled upon by an eager scribe inches from your nose.

The biggest shortfall of the election process, is the preparation for a successful outcome. Those candidates who have served a term or more are indeed better prepared, in some ways, a little too cocky in others, when it comes to dealing with the press. An example of this is when a councillor decides after several terms, to run for mayor or a regional chair. While the councillor didn’t have a great deal to do with one-on-ones with local or regional reporting staff, a mayor or chairperson could be thrust in minutes (in the case of a disaster or major event) out onto the main stage without a script......or any one to toss them a life-ring. I’ve witnessed it many times when all of a sudden, an elected official with very little public relations training, is unceremoniously a media personality. My point is it pays to learn how to deal with the media in all kinds of situations, even before you find out the tally of votes.

Up until a few years ago, the press in Muskoka had particularly sharp teeth, and wouldn’t show mercy on any elected official who couldn’t answer their questioning. I think it was a period when elected officials were better prepared for a reporter’s scrutiny than today, as news-hounding is somewhat gentler than in a previous decade. Every council representative was well aware that they could fall somewhere beneath the bold face, banked headlines, and that if they weren’t up-to-speed, or had made a mistake one way or another, press day was going to be a bummer. If however, you were an elected official who understood freedom of the press, and the public’s right to know, and maintained a good and fair relationship with local reporters, there was much less chance of also winding up in a scathing editorial. Of course, there were a few poor sods who didn’t believe the public had the right to know anything more than what they were prepared to state, and they paid dearly for their opinions.

I was editor of The Herald-Gazette in 1980's through one of the toughest newspaper battles in Ontario, and it was a time when getting a big scoop for the front page, kept you on the payroll. Local politicians were sitting ducks, and both papers didn’t flinch from investigative forays into their bastions. Most co-operated as best they could. A few others flipped us the bird and we set about to make their indifference to democracy a front page debate.....sometimes for weeks at a time.

If council-hopefuls have consumed my many diatribes on this blog-site, and then spit and fumed about “Who the hell is this guy anyway,” well then you’ve been stirred-up and that’s a good thing. If you want to have a good term of office, and survive media scrutiny from many potential outlets, you should pay attention to these suggestions.....spit and fume all you want.....but pay attention anyway.

1. Place yourself, via imagination, in the media focus, because there has just been a local disaster, or major event, and you, by circumstance and availability have become an immediate spokesperson......eg., a reporter finds you helping others after a bad storm, and wants you “take” on the scope of the disaster. You can’t get away with fobbing off because you can’t find the words. Prepare for such a circumstance, so that you won’t be caught off guard. Speak honestly and sensibly, from what your position allows, (if you’re not the mayor, don’t speak on matters you aren’t legally entitled, such as declaring a state of emergency), and speak of the actuality around you. This is what a reporter is looking for.....an honest appraisal from the hip, not from a book of prepared responses.

2. When you find yourself in an impromtu interview situation, think carefully about the questions, and never, never, go “off the record,” because you remember it from the “Lou Grant” television show. If you suspect it’s “off the record” material, and sensitive for whatever reason, you are better to run it past council associates in the chain of command, and get proper legal advice. While it is true that many reporters will follow the protocol of keeping “off the record” information out of print, it is very risky for you to take this chance. This isn’t always a case of blocking access to information but rather a heads-up to you that this information must be dealt with fairly and responsibly, in a keen appreciation of legal obligations to accurate and documented situations. I could have crushed many elected officials with information I had off the record. While most reporters stick to this commitment, courts can make it awfully difficult for scribes to protect their sources in a court case.

3. Return calls from the media. Don’t think you can avoid them by not returning calls, or sneaking past them after a council meeting. Face up to your responsibility, as an elected official, and be ready, willing and able, to discuss what you can, when you can, with a reporter trying to do their job. We always doubled our interest in any government official who tried to evade interviews or make comments on the day’s events. It was a sure sign to us that there was a big story somewhere in this avoidance, and most times we eventually tracked it down. Don’t fear the media but rather, become comfortable with the fact, they are important components of democracy.

THE HOME STRETCH - WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM OUR LOCAL CANDIDATES

There could be a plethora of interesting theatrics, some sign waving, political yodeling from the more enthusiastic candidates but generally, I think, the hoopla has pooped out. Unless a donnybrook breaks out at the all-candidates’ meeting, which I’d kind of like to see, there’s not a lot of excitement out there on the hustings. It’s not that there’s not some fire within, it’s that there are few forums that allow for the free-flow of opinions. The all-candidates meeting is kept under strict management and most candidates seem to like having parameters, like mounting outriggers on the old canoe to avoid tipping. The problem is, without a full fledged election debate, we can’t clearly witness how the candidates handle adversity. It’s one thing to impose council protocol, at town hall, but the forums are the chance to let it all hang out. In Gravenhurst’s case, there’s not much to hang out, and unless something wild and wacky occurs, it will be the typical paint-drying vigil, with candidates pouring out their souls, about how honest, trustworthy and hardworking they’ve been all their blessed lives. After they finish their diatribe, one might suspect these folks have never been constipated in their lives, it’s been so perfect, congenial, and well, also on the plus side, irregularity free.

What needs to be witnessed, by the voters, without question, is how a candidate on the hot-seat, makes a sensible argument, counter-point, or solid defense, in a rigorous debate; keeping composure, and being able to match counterpoint with a jab, a right hook, and a roundhouse, that convinces us this individual has true grit. We’ve had enough “lumps on logs” thank you very much. Now we need the fighters who don’t mind a verbal scuffle to get the job done. A pleasant debate? I’ve seen this turn real bad for constituents. Pleasant debates don’t often make the news pages in the local press. That’s where we find out what’s going on with our elected representatives and council issues. I hope this isn’t what we’re going to get for the next four years. Pleasant debate! We need sand in the ointment. A bee in the proverbial bonnet. Anything to ensure that there’s critical debate, not just friendly resolution, to what we know better as profoundly difficult decisions. As for being intimidated by other candidates, come to my office for a free tutorial, and you’ll be bullied no longer.

I’ve scrunched up a lot of pamphlets this week, finding nary a one that would generate a smidgeon of my support. Phone me. Don’t shirk responsibility. You’ve all had plenty of time to meet and greet your constituents personally. Mailing this ridiculous propaganda is a waste of money, and an annoyance to those who have to haul them to recycling.

Got a message, extend it in person. If you’re nervous of doing this, drop out of the council race now. Extend your vote support to some other candidate, who loves to mix-it up.

While some will believe my advice harsh and blunt, and a little insensitive, a few who know me better, will appreciate, “Ted must know what he’s writing about.....that nose didn’t get broken all those times by itself!” This council session will be particularly intrusive into a number of areas of past business, with what I predict will be greater forensic interest in budgets past and present. Re-elected councillors may find this retrospective potentially insulting to their previous voting on issues, and this will require considerable patience and some explanations, that obviously could prove uncomfortable. Get over it.

CANDIDATES WHO SEEMINGLY BEG FOR MY VOTE, DON’T GET IT -WON’T GET IT

What I see in local municipal-candidate advertising so far, is bile raising, and dry heave generating. It is a sort of written flatulence, that seems to be begging for my (our) support, on the subject council member’s past credits, serving the municipality. Keep in mind we paid them for good attributes. For Christ sakes this is not only demeaning to the candidate, gads, it’s diminishing to the whole process. Statements that are full to brimming over with ambiguities and other nonsense, that seems to suggest we will drift aimlessly in the storm of realities, without their leadership. Yet with their role on council over the past four years, we’ve been drifting in oh so many storms, and have so many barnacles on the hull that need to be scraped off. The promises mean nothing! If you feel compelled to sell yourself as an honest, trustworthy, loyal, hardworking, approachable candidate, that’s the first sign of serious self doubt, as if you suspect the voters have reason to think unkindly from the get go. If you have a history with our councils, and we’ve been watching your performance through quite a number of council / town issues, you don’t need to expend the words, to tell us of your many virtues. We’ll just sort of know this before we read your advertising. You can tell us you’re honest and hardworking, but rest assured we’re way ahead of you. So why not drop the charade, and admit to having a few faults and having made mistakes in the past......thus giving a human appearance to an otherwise plastic campaign.

Generalities are useless. Admitting that you’re not quite perfect, well, that’s a good start. And it’s what we, the voters, would say; “now that’s refreshingly honest.” I’ll vote for the candidates who wear battle wounds of experience with pride, and can share past misadventures with a devotion to restitution, and who aren’t afraid of being knocked down, because they’ve been there before.

MAJORITY OF CANDIDATES WEAK WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL REALITIES

AND DOING SOMETHING TO HELP OUT-

When we find out there are hungry people in the world, we think to ourselves, “That’s too bad. I’d hate to be hungry.” When we hear or read about the fact, there are Canadians who are going hungry everyday, we snort in disgust, that we could have such a shortfall in the land of plenty. While some take it more seriously, and vow to do something about it, truth is, if more helped out, there would be a much smaller number of hungry folks. And when we are made aware that in our province, there are hungry amongst us, many, many just don’t care. Those who do, are heaven-sent. When we hear of hungry people in our hometown, and in our neighborhoods, well, there must be some mistake. We don’t see hungry people begging for food out on the street afterall! How is this possible in our neat and tidy little community at the Gateway to Muskoka? My question is, how can a town council remain so indifferent, when it should be leading the “good neighbor” example. Maybe if the new mayor was fully up-to-speed about these unfortunate realities, he or she would make it a council priority to keep the issue front and center, and commence plans to spread this awareness, and offer support to the Food Bank in one of many forms. Not all support has to be cash. I’m sure there are many other ways council could help their constituents who require assistance.

One of the major areas of neglect by previous and present town councils, and council hopefuls in this latest round, is their general malaise when it comes to any concern about the social problems we have in this region. While there is certainly more discussion about making ratepayers feel more comfortable and respected in local government, those who don’t own property, industry or business in this community, are severely neglected...... pretty much the unspoken disregard that they won’t play any serious role in determining the election outcome. Yet the folks who most definitely need council understanding and support, are very seldom sought out as a strategy for gaining a base of support. This makes up a fair chunk of votes, so you’d think a few candidates would spare a little space in their advertisements, to address some of the unfortunate actuality going on in their own ballywick.

As a municipality we must represent the needs of all our residents not just property owners. We need to have elected officials who walk the streets, now and again, on fact finding missions, at all times of the day and night. They might be very surprised to know what goes on in the wee hours, along our main corridor. They need to pull their heads out of the sand, and see and experience first hand, the root causes of drug abuse, drug peddling, crime, and vandalism, and recognize clearly that it is our problem, that will require a home grown remedy. The police can’t do much more than enforce the law. Our job is to nip crime in the bud, by a new proactive approach.......the first step, is to actually admit it exists, and to what level, by doing some fundamental research, and doing so with a critical approach, looking at all sides of the issue and comparing available statistics.

One night, just over a week ago (from the time of this posting), we heard five car alarms sounding at about half-hour intervals. It wasn’t the same car. A perpetrator, or several, were attempting to break into cars up and down the street. Earlier in August, we interrupted a would-be thief in out neighbor’s car, scaring the bike-riding bandit off. We called the police immediately, offering as best we could, a description of the suspect. We found out there were more incidents on our street that we never reported. Just as it is most likely, the folks who had cars affected, setting off their alarms, failed to report the incidents to police. A lot of residents now look at these attempted break-ins as “nuisance” only events, and won’t bother informing police. Thus there is a very distorted statistical portrait of this crime in our neighborhood. Now imagine this attitude stretching over the entire community.....people deciding not to get involved because the incidents are so frequent, and the process of reporting them, seemingly a waste of time. Well it’s not! We’re not helping the police or our community by ignoring the attempted break-ins. Sooner or later these brazen attempts will become more aggressive, with a potential for personal injury, if a resident confronts a trespasser on purpose or by accident.

I hear and read very little about our council’s concern about local crime and its prevalence. Why?

When do we hear anything from Council regarding the fact we need the services of the Salvation Army, to help feed our most vulnerable citizens. And for those ignorant of the actuality of the day, and the prevailing economic climate, for God’s sake smarten up. There is NO excuse for any councillor in this town to take for granted or minimize the need in our community.......from the very young to the elderly. Don’t expect to read an election ad suggesting that “I pledge to help the less fortunate,” or “I will be in the front line to help during food drives,” to keep the Food Bank shelves full. How many council hopefuls, for this coming election, know or have been inside our local food bank? Well I have, many times, to drop off donations we have raised during numerous fundraising concerts. And I can tell you, it’s a wonderful feeling, especially when you see how many people will benefit from that generosity bestowed. We can’t have these shortfalls in our community go unrecognized by the local governance, hell bent on spending money we don’t have, on a town hall we really couldn’t afford.

It has been the course of history folks, that when these problems aren’t dealt with, and allowed to increase unabated, wounds past, present and future can not heal. If we are truly the generous and caring community I believe we are, then we need a town hall that is acutely aware of the divides and disadvantages we have come to live with as a norm, simply because it has been mistakenly thought as being of lesser importance, than ratepayer sabre rattling.

As Jacob Marley’s ghost yelled at a miserly Scrooge, in Dickens, “A Christmas Carol,” “Mankind is our business.” It is the business of every elected official in this town, to be aware of the social / economic conditions that prevail.....not simply catering to ratepayers because they are the squeaky wheels.

THE BARGE CONCERT SERIES IS A PIVOT OF HOMETOWN WELL BEING

Fred Schulz only knows part of what his contribution to this town means. As manager of The Barge, and Sunday Concert Series, at Rotary Gull Lake Park, he certainly knows his services are appreciated. There are quite a few awards and letters of support to attest to this. What he doesn’t fully understand, is how much heartbreak his departure would create amongst all of us patrons, who consider him the barometer of well-being in the old hometown. He’s got a huge fan base, yet he’s not the entertainer. When he walks through the crowd, he attracts groupies. Not many concert promoters have this kind of crowd appeal. “Say, what happened to Fred. I thought he was just going to the snack bar for fries,” my son might ask. “Can’t you see his head,” responds my other son. “He’s in the middle of that group of people over there.” This is the truth. No embellishment. He’s a popular guy. Yet he’s modest beyond belief. Fred defers congratulations to all of the people who help him throughout the year, get the concert series up and running. As for ego, well, his success has never gone to his head, and if you know Fred at all, you’d have to agree he’s not in it as a popularity competition.

Few of the concert goers, who faithfully follow the summer events, would disagree, Fred is curiously symbolic of home town values, and one of our fondest summer traditions has been nurtured by this good neighbor for long and long.......and even by his own admission, it’s become so much a part of his life, that instinct takes over at key parts of the organizational year. If he ever did leave his post, to pursue retirement, he has confessed to me, he’s not at all sure how he’d be able to shake old habits, especially on concert nights, as it has been so much a part of his comings and goings, as if it is a flesh and blood part of his family life.

Fred has meant a lot to our family. He has been a mentor to our boys, who are both now firmly planted in the entertainment industry, thanks to his leadership, and he has given Suzanne and I many memorable summer nights, by offering us that wonderful venue overlooking a beautiful Muskoka lake. We look forward to the commencement of The Barge season, and what a joy it is to see Fred walk out onto that stage to launch yet one more season. I have told Fred this many times, that his highly successful concert program, each summer, is as much a hallmark of what Gravenhurst represents as a hometown, as when a silversmith boldly strikes a stamp on a beautifully crafted punch bowl or tankard. If you were to sample the audience, and find out just where these folks were from, what an international mingling you would discover......and the goodwill from this series travels globally as well, in first person, and I can’t think of many other venues and promotions for tourism, operated on such a tiny budget, that receive this much acclaim for excellence in such a routine fashion.

Fred is pretty modest about his accomplishments, and isn’t a “limelight” seeker. He has given up a huge part of his time over the decades, to give us something splendid.....a pillar of what any hometown wants as its marker of hospitality, friendship, and neighborliness. What has been my concern for many years now, is the apparent neglect of town hall, to recognize what the Concert Series involves each year, which begins early in the new year, when acts have to be sought out, negotiated with, booked, and a plethora of details worked out by ongoing communication with the participating parties. The concerts themselves are often grueling encounters, when dealing with the many details of organization, equipment, food preparations for the groups and volunteers, and having the weight of responsibility hanging over his head constantly, when a decision on inclement weather, may force a concert inside. Fred hates to pull a concert indoors, as he knows many folks won’t get a seat, as was proven this year when the Opera House was jammed to capacity for a concert, and he had to pacify many disenchanted folks, who left disappointed. Fred was devastated by the fact some people had blamed him, as if he had ordered the rain to fall. But with an amazing resilience he was back on the stage the next Sunday evening, as vibrant as ever, delighting so many of his ardent supporters.

Fred has managed to operate The Barge, for many years, on a shoestring budget. For a venue that attracts some of the largest crowds of any Muskoka entertainment offering, his ability to pull off the seasons, pretty much on budget each year, is nothing short of phenomenal when related to other municipal operations requiring much more funding for less output. But there comes a time when change is necessary. The Barge is in great need of restoration, as quite a chunk of woodwork must be replaced for the health and safety of all users. It has been this way for some time but the only repairs made so far, have been of a minor nature, much of this handcrafted by Fred’s faithful volunteer brigade.

The Town of Gravenhurst is fortunate to have the services of Fred Schulz but they must not take his kindness for granted one day longer. He is mortal afterall, and suffers as we all do, from time to time, from the rigors of the job. As a personal care-giver for his mother, Fred admittedly has been exhausted for most of the past five years. But you’d never know it, when he cheerfully heads down to the Gull Lake shoreline, crosses out to the The Barge with armfuls of supplies, to set up for the night’s concert. While he is, in our terms, the only one who can pull off this concert series, and he has a lot of testimonials to this effect, it is necessary for council to appreciate more fully, the importance of discussing, openly and honestly, his increasing capital needs for The Barge, and the ongoing concert series. In my own opinion, he needs a greater respect from all council representatives and NOW. Not just a handshake or pat on the back, which he gets plenty of, but a sincere direction of interest, in what his work, in local entertainment, means to our hometown generally, and how that tradition should not be lost because of a lack of interest. While some members of council have been supportive, and do care about the issue of a failing Barge platform, it certainly hasn’t found its way into the election debate so far. This I hope will change.

We all have a happily acknowledged conflict with Mr. Schulz and The Barge. Our sons Robert and Andrew have worked with Fred for years now, as have their friends, and we assist as they put on an annual fundraiser to help Fred defray costs of its operation. And you can find us along the lakeshore for every Sunday concert (unless rain sends us for shelter), where we have found our own little sliver of Muskoka nirvana. When we look out at the huge audience huddled on the embankment, through the park, and watch over the crowded beachfront on a beautiful summer night, I can tell you, it’s a feeling of pride we feel most of all, because they are all appreciating a homegrown tradition.....many citizens of other Muskoka towns making a point of spending these nights as our guests. All thanks to Fred. Frankly, without Fred, it just wouldn’t be the same. He instills an air of celebration about it all, and that’s the work of the man, not just the performance at hand.

It’s time that the Town of Gravenhurst appreciated The Barge and Mr. Schulz’s efforts, by placing the matter as a high priority......not the low priority it currently holds in town affairs. If it was a high priority, the rotting boards and unsafe conditions of The Barge would have been repaired three or four years ago. It’s time for action to save a wonderful entertainment program in our town. Insist on it. Talk to Fred. Support his position as ongoing manager. He would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

From all of us, thank you Fred.